Farewell to Celeste Pin: Italian football mourns a Fiorentina icon | OneFootball

The former defender was found lifeless yesterday in his Florence home. He was 64 years old. The prosecutor's office has opened a file for manslaughter. Condolences from clubs, institutions, and friends.

Farewell to Celeste Pin: Italian football mourns a symbol of Fiorentina

A severe bereavement has struck the world of Italian football. Celeste Pin, former historic defender of Fiorentina and a well-known face in the football of the 80s and 90s, was found lifeless in his home on the hills above Careggi, in Florence. He was 64 years old.

A family member raised the alarm in the early afternoon of Tuesday, July 22. Medical personnel from 118 and law enforcement intervened, confirming the death. Pin, who had played 263 games in Serie A, 200 of which with the Viola jersey, had maintained a close bond with Florence even after his retirement.

A career as a protagonist 🏆 Originally from Caprino Veronese, Celeste Pin was a solid, loyal, and generous defender. After starting out at Perugia, he became a cornerstone of Fiorentina between 1982 and 1991, then wearing the jerseys of Verona and Siena. After hanging up his boots in the mid-1990s, he continued to work in football, dedicating himself in particular to the youth sector, where he held managerial and technical positions.

He was a teammate, among others, of the current Viola coach Stefano Pioli, who expressed emotion and closeness to the family. Pin was also a familiar face in local sports broadcasts, always maintaining a strong bond with the Tuscan territory.

Investigations underway: the prosecutor's office opens a file According to initial information, the Florence prosecutor's office has opened a file for manslaughter, a necessary act to allow further investigations into the dynamics of the death. Although the most accredited hypothesis is that of a voluntary gesture, no farewell messages or letters were found. The goal of the investigation is to shed full light on the facts.

The condolences of Fiorentina Through an official statement, the Viola club remembered Pin with heartfelt words:

"Celeste was an important footballer for the history of Fiorentina and an exemplary fan. He never failed to show his closeness to the team and the city. He will remain forever in the memory of the Gigliata family," reads the note signed by President Rocco Commisso, the management, and Stefano Pioli himself.

The reactions: Verona, institutions, and teammates Verona, where Pin played from 1991 to 1995, also wanted to remember him:

"We are deeply saddened, and we cling to the Pin family. Celeste was a protagonist of our seasons and will remain in the heart of the yellow and blue fans."

Particularly touching is the memory of Francesco "Ciccio" Graziani, his former teammate at Fiorentina:

"Celeste was a special boy, sunny, always smiling. We had an event planned together in June. He was happy, full of enthusiasm. I can't believe it."

Local institutions also wanted to pay tribute. The mayor of Florence, Sara Funaro, spoke of "a figure who has left a deep mark on the city", while the councilor for sports Letizia Perini remembered "the constant commitment to young people and grassroots football". The president of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani, defined Pin as "a sunny man, a symbol of Florence and its sports culture".

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.